7 Web Design Trends to Consider in 2017

The Web is a rapidly evolving realm. Technologies and available tools have changed significantly during the last couple of years. Many of those don’t even exist anymore or are being left out. Instead, new devices have changed the way we consume online content and media. Without any doubt, this has changed the way websites look and function.

Keeping up with the latest Web design trends has become of vital importance. Whether they concern graphic design or database functions, they can make or break a website’s appeal. To help you find out what’s new and improved in 2017, we present you our list of seven Web design trends to consider.

 

Greater Use of Negative Space

Every website consists of two types of spaces. These are positive and negative spaces that make up the visual appeal of a website. Positive spaces are ‘active’ spaces filled with your website’s elements like content, navigation, text, and media. On the other hand, negative spaces are ‘passive’ spaces. They don’t contain any visual elements but help to structure and uniform your website’s design.

By now, it’s clear that 2017 brought a greater use of negative space. Numerous popular sites went through an overhaul and visual decluttering. You no longer don’t have to fill every inch of screen space. Instead, help your visitors to find their way around your website. Help them to enjoy your content and focus on your informative articles and media through a clever use of negative space.

 

Bold & Expressive Typography

Along with other visual elements, typography has the power to show your website’s character. You want to appear funny, or serious, or somewhere in between? You can certainly find a font to help you achieve that effect.

One of the most popular Web design trends in 2017 is to be bold in design. However, you don’t have to show your boldness through dynamic graphics or bright colors. Instead, go for a minimalistic design and bold typography. This kind of contrast provides an incredibly striking effect. Don’t be afraid to use an unorthodox font, as long as it’s readable.

 

Cinemagraphs

When it comes to Web design, nothing can replace animations. They make your website appear dynamic and visually appealing. Furthermore, they help you transform text-based information into easily understandable blocks. However, not every animation is the same.

The days of Flash-based animations are gone. Instead, cinemagraphs have taken their spots. How many times you’ve seen a striking hero image with just one animated element? For example, a moving necklace on a model’s neck? Or the smoke coming out from a cup of coffee? All of these are examples of cinemagraphs. Make sure to include this kind of photo/video hybrid and raise some eyebrows.

 

Scroll-Triggered Animations

When it comes to subtly animated effects, scroll-triggered animations are all the rage these days. This kind of animations can liven up elements on your page that come alive as a user scrolls up and down.

It’s interesting to note that scroll-triggered animations are applied to both large and small elements. For example, you can animate a series of images that move as the user scrolls. Even better, focus your visitors’ attention by animating small icons or symbols. This will pull your visitors’ attention to a specific area on your website, so you can use that effect to present a particular kind of information.

It’s also important to mention that scroll-triggered animations work great with parallax motion layouts. Even though this combination requires extra effort, your website’s visitors will be left impressed.

 

High-Quality Photos and Icons

We’re sure that you’re aware of the importance of using high-quality photos and other visual elements. No matter what kind of a website you own, images and visual elements are there to tell a story. Images have the power to unleash dynamics and make your site’s content appealing.

These days, there’s no excuse not to use only the best possible photos and icons. Online marketplaces offer both free and premium-priced pictures, icons, vectors, and Photoshop layouts. For a couple of dollars, you can ensure that you’re using high-quality visuals. This is of the utmost importance for hero images. These images are not only the first thing your visitors see but the most important aspect of their first impression. Combine them with a minimalistic navigation and bold typography, and you’ll be sure that you’re following the latest Web design trends.

 

Creative Photo Effects

Thanks to today’s highly capable smartphone applications, everyone can apply all kinds of effects on their photos. An average smartphone user is now aware of this option, which is what made Instagram so successful. This situation is what caused one of the currently popular Web design trends.

As a Web designer, you already know a lot about creative photo effects. Use of compelling images that look striking and attract attention is imperative these days. In fact, there’s no excuse not to improve your images. This is because Photoshop is no longer the most powerful tool for photo editing. Your smartphone’s apps can do the job in no time.

We previously told you about using a large hero image. Now we’re telling you that you can apply simple yet creative photo effects like color overlays or black & white transformation. Make sure to implement the hero image into your website’s visual design.

 

Perfect Color Combinations

If you’re unsure where to start when it comes to colors, take a look at Pantone’s color of the year 2017. Called Greenery, this hue of green symbolizes revitalization and new beginnings. Don’t forget to be bold and to show your brand’s values through a vivid and striking color scheme.

In 2017, we’ve seen a couple of new trends when it comes to the use of colors. Monochromatic and complementary color combinations will never go out of style, but don’t be afraid to try something new. For example, triadic schemes combine three colors that are evenly spaced on the color wheel. If you’re looking for something even more vibrant, double-complementary schemes might be the solution. This is a combination of four colors – two complementary pairs. Still, don’t forget to make one of those colors the primary one, which helps to avoid visual clutter.

Conclusion

As we hope you realize by now, 2017 is the year of experimentation. The latest Web design trends are all about bold statements and striking visual elements. This applies to website layouts, typography, animations, and even color schemes. Don’t be afraid to offer something new, but remember the basics of Web design: readability, ease of use, and intuitive functionality.

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